Latest news with #OvalInvincibles'
NDTV
3 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Rashid Khan Opens Up On Rehab Mistakes, How A Break Helped Him Rediscover His Best Following Back Surgery
Afghanistan star spinner Rashid Khan, currently participating in The Hundred in the UK, opened up on how he made a mistake by returning to cricket just a few months after a back surgery following the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, which led to a decline in his performance. The spinner also admitted that, in desperation to perform well in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 with Gujarat Titans (GT), he over-exerted himself in the training, feeling he was "letting his team down." The IPL 2025 season was Rashid's worst ever, as he took nine wickets in 15 matches, averaging a disappointing 57.11 and leaking runs at an economy rate of 9.34. He was taken to the cleaners by the capped and uncapped talent alike as he was tonked for 33 sixes. The season saw him struggle with his speed and accuracy. However, following a two-month break after the IPL, Rashid came back better than ever, crossing the 650-run mark with a match-sealing 3/11 for defending champions Oval Invincibles' win over London Spirit at Lord's. In a chat with ESPNCricinfo, Rashid admitted failing to grasp the doctor's advice following his back surgery. "After IPL, I needed the kind of break where my body gets back to normal," Rashid said. "I worked a little bit on my strength. And especially coming back from back surgery, I had not had much time to rehab properly. That's where I made a mistake to restart my cricket so quickly at that time. And I feel like I did not let myself properly recover, and I pushed it a little bit at that time, and I can see the disadvantage of that now. But after IPL [2025], I felt like I needed that kind of two months off where I could just focus on my fitness," said Rashid. "And when I came on Tuesday, I felt so good, in a good rhythm, and the ball was coming nicely out of my hand, and [my] body was allowing me to go through. So these things matter a lot - sometimes you do not think about that a lot; you just try your best to push yourself. But I feel to be out of the game for some time and focus on my fitness - and also [focus] mentally and physically - that played a huge role," he added. On a sluggish Lord's pitch, Rashid bowled at speeds varying between 94-98 kph and looked in total control. "On Tuesday, I was bowling at 94-98 kph - that is my pace, and the speeds I am known to bowl at. I feel I was missing that before because my body was not allowing me to go through my action with that full energy. Last night, against Spirit, when I came to bowl, I was getting that good feeling, and I was touching that speed with which I could put the batsman in trouble, and also not allow him much time to read from the surface," he added. After a few months of his back surgery, despite a warning to pay attention to his rehab, Rashid started playing competitive cricket from March 2024 onwards against Ireland, mostly T20Is, though. He was also a part of Afghanistan's historic run to the semifinals in the T20 World Cup 2024. Soon after that, he faced niggles in his back and hamstrings, causing him to miss the Big Bash League (BBL) and Pakistan Super League (PSL). In January 2025, he played some Test cricket, playing the second Zimbabwe Test at Bulawayo, bowling a combined 55 overs and picking up 11 wickets. But the toll of these marathon spells was felt during the Champions Trophy and the IPL. In the CT, he could pick just one wicket in three matches and leaked runs at an economy rate of 6.25. "When I came back to cricket after surgery, I was told not to rush back in the longer formats [Tests and ODIs] that quickly as that was not going to help me," Rashid said. "About eight to nine months after I had started to play post-surgery, I bowled 65 [55] overs in the Bulawayo Test. That really pushed my back a little bit, and I felt it at that time. I should not have been in whites." "In T20s, it is fine - you can manage yourself - but for the longer formats, I was advised that you should be away from that format for some time. That is the kind of mistake I have made. But the team needed that. At that time, we had lost a few games in Test cricket, but that is something where I rushed myself a little bit, and I did not give myself time, and I felt it later on. Yes, I think I have done a mistake where my body was not allowing me that and I am facing a problem. The thing i,s the stiffness in your back does not allow you to go with full rhythm," he added. During the IPL, the spin wizard admitted trying too many things and bowling too many overs in the training sessions. "I was trying my best to get back on track and deliver the best for the team, and do what I am famous for, what I am known for. But sometimes, you are trying your best, you are pushing yourself too much, [and] it doesn't help. You just need to try to be relaxed and cool down, and let the things [be] - it will be fine. You just need to not put too much of pressure on yourself. I was going to the nets every day, sometimes bowling 15-16 overs at one go," he added. Rashid felt that he was "letting everyone down" and even consulted GT's coaching staff regarding his bowling, as he felt good bowling in the nets. Now, looking back, spinner admits the needs to "calm down" and accept one could have "bad days or years". "Sometimes you just need to calm down. You do have bad days, [and] you have bad years, and you have to accept that; it's not like you are going to be on top all the time. These things just teach you so many good things. And that is something which I should have taken - like yes, it is fine. I shouldn't be pushing myself too much. I am positive that I am working hard, but it is just a matter of time it will come," he said. Rashid was also aware given the status and intensity IPL had, people were bound to question if he was past his prime. "Everyone then talk about like, 'Okay, what happened? Is he done?' Is it this, [or] that? But for me, I was just missing my length," he said. When he entered the IPL in 2017, Rashid bowled an economy of just six runs per over until 2022. By the next year, batters, especially right-handers, had a freer, attacking approach against him, with his economy rate gradually increasing to 8.57 (2023), 8.84 (2024) and 9.69 (2025) against the right-handers, as compared to just 5.95 in the 2017 season, which marked his debut. A few seasons ago, Rashid's balls-per-six ratio was 43, but by 2025, it was 10. Rashid was aware of these numbers, but didn't feel too concerned. "Before, when I was bowling 24 balls (four overs per T20 innings), I was missing pitching them on length for like four or five balls. But then the number went up to eight or nine balls. And in those eight to nine balls, they are scoring those extra couple of sixes and couple of big boundaries. I just needed to decrease that. Nothing else. It is not like of the 24 balls, I was bowling every ball badly, [or] I was bowling wides and full tosses. I knew it is going to be fine," he added. Rashid pulled out of the Major Cricket League (MLC), where he represents MI New York, in June after a chat with coaches made him extent of stress he was putting his body under and unable to go with the "full flow". During his time away from the game, he did a lot of strength training, especially for his lower back and did some spot bowling two to three times a week, along with some batting. The gym work gained more focus. The spinner, who got married last October, also got to spend more time with the family, which left him feeling relaxed. "After IPL finished, for three weeks, I did not touch the ball. I spent most of my time with my family, [and] my nephews - going around with them, [and] had fun - just to take all those memories and stuff and bad days out of my mind, and then restart with the cricket. That is what I did just to be refreshed, and then got back on track and got back bowling in the right spot," he added. The break seems to have impacted Rashid positively, as before coming back to The Hundred, he played four matches for Speen Ghar Tigers, in Afghanistan's T20 tournament, picking up 4/19 in the last match. Now, Rashid will be hoping to carry the momentum forward as Invincibles aim to make it a hat-trick of titles.
India.com
3 days ago
- Sport
- India.com
You Do Have Bad Days, And...: Rashid Khan Makes Major Revelation On His Struggles In IPL 2025
Rashid Khan, the star Afghanistan leg-spinner, has opened up about his underwhelming performance for Gujarat Titans during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, where he struggled significantly with the ball. Notably, Rashid was far from his best during the IPL 2025, picking up only nine wickets in 15 matches at an economy rate of 9.34, conceding a record 33 sixes - the most by any bowler in a single IPL season. In a candid chat, the 26-year-old spinner has revealed that he was trying too many things and pushing himself too much in training. "I was trying my best to get back on track and deliver the best for the team, and do what I'm famous for, what I'm known for. But sometimes, you are trying your best, you are pushing yourself too much, [and] it doesn't help. You just need to try to be relaxed and cool down, and let the things [be] - it'll be fine. You just need to not put too much of pressure on yourself. I was going to the nets every day, sometimes bowling 15-16 overs at one go," Rashid told ESPNCricinfo. The leg-spinner further mentioned that he felt he was "letting everyone down", and even asked the coaching staff of Gujarat Titans about what was happening as he was feeling good in the nets. "Sometimes you just need to calm down. You do have bad days, [and] you have bad years, and you have to accept that; it's not like you are going to be on top all the time. These things just teach you so many good things. And that's something which I should have taken - like yes, it's fine. I shouldn't be pushing myself too much. I'm positive that I'm working hard, but it's just a matter of time it'll come," he said. Rashid admitted were bound to question whether he remained the same formidable bowler he once was after his ordinary outing for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025 season. "Everyone then talk about like, 'Okay, what happened? Is he done?' Is it this, [or] that? But for me, I was just missing my length," he said. After having a difficult IPL 2025 campaign, Rashid took a break off two months and has returned rejuvenated, producing a match-wining 3 for 11 in Oval Invincibles' win over London Spirit in their first game of The Hundred 2025 at Lord's. "After IPL, I needed the kind of break where my body gets back to normal. I worked a little bit on my strength. And especially coming back from back surgery, I hadn't had much time to rehab properly. That's where I did a bit of mistake to restart my cricket so quickly at that time. And I feel like I didn't let myself properly recover, and I pushed it a little bit at that time, and I can see the disadvantage of that now. But after IPL [2025], I felt like I needed that kind of two months off where I can just focus on my fitness," the Afghanistan spinner said "And when I came yesterday [on Tuesday], I felt so good, in a good rhythm, and the ball was coming nicely out of my hand, and [my] body was allowing me to go through. So these things matter a lot - sometimes you don't think about that a lot; you just try your best to push yourself. But I feel to be out of the game for some time and focus on my fitness - and also [focus] mentally and physically - that really played a huge role," he concluded.
India.com
3 days ago
- Sport
- India.com
I Have Done A Mistake Where...: Rashid Khan Breaks Silence, Reveals What Went Wrong For Him After Back Surgery
Star Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who had a horror outing for Gujarat Titans during IPL 2025, has opened up on his struggles and mistakes after the back surgery. Notably, Rashid was far from his best during the IPL 2025 as he picked only 9 wickets in 15 matches with a poor average of 57.11 and economy rate of 9.34 as batter dominated him. He conceded 33 sixes, which is most by a bowler in a single IPL season. The 26-year-old Rashid admitted that he made a mistake by rushing back to cricketing action after his back surgery, which happened shortly after the 2023 ODI World Cup. Post-surgery, Rashid's speed, which is key to his lethal bowling, depleted considerably, in addition to a loss of accuracy. After having a difficult IPL 2025 campaign, Rashid took a break off two months and has returned rejuvenated, producing a match-winning 3 for 11 in Oval Invincibles' win over London Spirit in their first game of The Hundred 2025 at Lord's. "After IPL, I needed the kind of break where my body gets back to normal. I worked a little bit on my strength. And especially coming back from back surgery, I hadn't had much time to rehab properly. That's where I did a bit of mistake to restart my cricket so quickly at that time. And I feel like I didn't let myself properly recover, and I pushed it a little bit at that time, and I can see the disadvantage of that now. But after IPL [2025], I felt like I needed that kind of two months off where I can just focus on my fitness," Rashid told ESPNCricinfo in an interview. "And when I came yesterday [on Tuesday], I felt so good, in a good rhythm, and the ball was coming nicely out of my hand, and [my] body was allowing me to go through. So these things matter a lot - sometimes you don't think about that a lot; you just try your best to push yourself. But I feel to be out of the game for some time and focus on my fitness - and also [focus] mentally and physically - that really played a huge role," he added. Barely a few months after the back surgery, Rashid started playing cricket despite warnings from medical experts. He started with the series against Ireland in March 2024, followed by the IPL and the T20 World Cup, where he led Afghanistan into the semi-finals. Thereafter, back and hamstring niggles forced him to miss the BBL and PSL. He returned in January 2025 for the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo and picked 11 wickets in 55 overs to be named Player of the Match. But the physical toll of that effort was apparent in his ordinary campaigns in Champions Trophy and IPL 2025. "When I came back to cricket after surgery, I was told not to rush back in the longer formats (Tests and ODIs) that quickly as that was not going to help me. About eight to nine months after I had started to play post surgery, I bowled 65 (55) overs in the Bulawayo Test. That really pushed my back a little bit, and I felt it at that time. I shouldn't have been in whites (to play Tests)," Rashid said. "In T20s, it's fine - you can manage yourself - but for the longer formats, I was advised that you should be away from that format for some time. That is the kind of mistake I have made. But the team needed that. At that time, we had lost a few games in Test cricket, but that's something where I rushed myself a little bit, and I didn't give myself time and I felt it later on. Yes, I think I have done a mistake where my body was not allowing me that and I'm facing a problem. The thing is the stiffness in your back doesn't allow you to go with full rhythm," he added. Following the conclusion of IPL 2025, Rashid withdrew from the MLC in the USA, where he was to turn out for MI New York, to focus on recovery, and doing strength training for his lower back in the gym. He also did spot bowling two or three times a week, with some batting practice. Off the field, the leg spinner, who got married in October last year, spent time relaxing with his family. "After IPL finished, for three weeks, I didn't touch the ball. I spent most of my time with my family, (and) my nephews - going around with them, (and) had fun - just to take all those memories and stuff and bad days out of my mind, and then restart with the cricket. That's what I did just to be refreshed, and then got back on track and got back bowling in the right spot," he said.
News18
3 days ago
- Sport
- News18
'Kind Of Mistake I Have Made...': Rashid Khan Opens Up On What Went Wrong
Last Updated: Rashid Khan admitted returning to cricket too soon after back surgery post-2023 ODI World Cup. After a tough IPL 2025, he took a break and returned strong in The Hundred. Afghanistan's premier leg-spinner Rashid Khan admitted he made an error by returning to cricket too quickly following his back surgery, which took place shortly after the 2023 ODI World Cup. After a challenging IPL 2025 campaign, where he conceded 33 sixes while playing for Gujarat Titans (GT), Rashid took two months off and returned with a match-winning 3-11 in defending champions Oval Invincibles' victory over London Spirit in their first game of The Hundred at Lord's. 'After IPL, I needed the kind of break where my body gets back to normal. I worked a little bit on my strength. And especially coming back from back surgery, I hadn't had much time to rehab properly. That's where I did a bit of mistake to restart my cricket so quickly at that time." 'And I feel like I didn't let myself properly recover, and I pushed it a little bit at that time, and I can see the disadvantage of that now. But after IPL (2025), I felt like I needed that kind of two months off where I can just focus on my fitness," Rashid was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo on Saturday. Rashid led Afghanistan to the semi-finals of the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup, before back and hamstring injuries caused him to miss the BBL and PSL. He returned in January 2025 for the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, taking 11 wickets in 55 overs and being named Player of the Match. However, the physical toll was evident in his less memorable campaigns in the Champions Trophy and IPL 2025. 'When I came back to cricket after surgery, I was told not to rush back in the longer formats (Tests and ODIs) that quickly as that was not going to help me. About eight to nine months after I had started to play post surgery, I bowled 65 (55) overs in the Bulawayo Test. That really pushed my back a little bit, and I felt it at that time. I shouldn't have been in whites (to play Tests)." 'In T20s, it's fine – you can manage yourself – but for the longer formats, I was advised that you should be away from that format for some time. That is the kind of mistake I have made. But the team needed that. At that time, we had lost a few games in Test cricket, but that's something where I rushed myself a little bit, and I didn't give myself time and I felt it later on." After IPL 2025, Rashid withdrew from the MLC in the USA, where he was to play for MI New York, to focus on recovery and strengthen his lower back. He did spot bowling two or three times a week, along with some batting practice, and spent time relaxing with his family after getting married in October last year. 'After IPL finished, for three weeks, I didn't touch the ball. I spent most of my time with my family, (and) my nephews – going around with them, (and) had fun – just to take all those memories and stuff and bad days out of my mind, and then restart with the cricket. That's what I did just to be refreshed, and then got back on track and got back bowling in the right spot," he concluded. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
"Made Mistake By Rushing Back": Rashid Khan On Playing Cricket After Back Surgery
Afghanistan's premier leg-spinner Rashid Khan admitted that he made a mistake by returning to cricketing action too quickly after his back surgery, which happened shortly after the 2023 ODI World Cup. After having a difficult IPL 2025 campaign, where he conceded 33 sixes while playing for Gujarat Titans (GT), Rashid took two months off and returned to action with a match-wining 3-11 in defending champions Oval Invincibles' win over London Spirit in their first game of The Hundred at Lord's. "After IPL, I needed the kind of break where my body gets back to normal. I worked a little bit on my strength. And especially coming back from back surgery, I hadn't had much time to rehab properly. That's where I did a bit of mistake to restart my cricket so quickly at that time." "And I feel like I didn't let myself properly recover, and I pushed it a little bit at that time, and I can see the disadvantage of that now. But after IPL (2025), I felt like I needed that kind of two months off where I can just focus on my fitness," Rashid was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo on Saturday. Rashid led Afghanistan to the semi-finals of 2024 Men's T20 World Cup, before back and hamstring injuries forced him to miss the BBL and PSL. He returned in January 2025 for the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, and picking 11 wickets in 55 overs to be named Player of the Match. But the physical toll of that effort was apparent in his not-so memorable campaigns in Champions Trophy and IPL 2025. "When I came back to cricket after surgery, I was told not to rush back in the longer formats (Tests and ODIs) that quickly as that was not going to help me. About eight to nine months after I had started to play post surgery, I bowled 65 (55) overs in the Bulawayo Test. That really pushed my back a little bit, and I felt it at that time. I shouldn't have been in whites (to play Tests)." "In T20s, it's fine - you can manage yourself - but for the longer formats, I was advised that you should be away from that format for some time. That is the kind of mistake I have made. But the team needed that. At that time, we had lost a few games in Test cricket, but that's something where I rushed myself a little bit, and I didn't give myself time and I felt it later on.' After IPL 2025 was over, Rashid withdrew from the MLC in USA, where he was to turn out for MI New York, to focus on recovery, and doing strength training for his lower back in the gym. He also did spot bowling two or three times a week, with some batting practice. Off the field, the legspinner, who got married in October last year, spent time relaxing with his family. "After IPL finished, for three weeks, I didn't touch the ball. I spent most of my time with my family, (and) my nephews - going around with them, (and) had fun - just to take all those memories and stuff and bad days out of my mind, and then restart with the cricket. That's what I did just to be refreshed, and then got back on track and got back bowling in the right spot," he concluded.
